Unearth The Voyage
Craving a throwback lunch that tastes like Sunday at grandma’s house? Oklahoma still serves up honest blue plate specials where the gravy is real and the sides come piled high. Follow along Route 66 and small town Main Streets to find meat plus two done right, with prices that feel pre inflation. Bring an appetite, ask about today’s special, and prepare for pure comfort.
1. Tally’s Good Food Café – Tulsa, OK
Roll into Tally’s along Route 66 and you can almost hear the jukebox warming up. The specials board changes daily, but the mood stays classic comfort: chicken pot pie bubbling under golden crust, roast beef soaking in gravy, liver and onions like a time capsule. Sides are faithful companions, from green beans to buttery corn.
You’ll get portions that make leftovers likely, served fast with Tulsa charm. Ask about pie because the blue plate practically demands a sweet ending. If you grew up on diner lunches, this tastes like a postcard from 1955, mailed straight to your appetite.
2. Rock Café – Stroud, OK
Pull off Route 66 and the Rock Café greets you with stone walls and stories. Fire could not stop this place, and neither could fame. The plate lunches are textbook: a hearty meat, two honest sides, and cornbread that crumbles just right. Meatloaf, fried chicken, or pot roast carry the day.
You sit, you order, and comfort arrives without fuss. Prices feel friendly, and the nostalgia is free. Ask your server about today’s special, then enjoy that slow road feeling. It’s the kind of diner stop that turns a quick lunch into a memory.
3. Flo’s Burger Diner – Catoosa, OK
Flo’s may be known for burgers, but the rotating blue plate lunch is where weekday cravings land. Regulars hardly glance at menus because Wednesday means pork chops, and other days bring meatloaf, smothered chicken, or chili mac. Sides hug the main course like old friends.
Expect fast, friendly service and portions that cover the plate. Prices help, too, keeping this routine comfortably affordable. Ask what’s cooking and roll with it. You’ll taste why locals treat the specials board like a calendar. It’s straightforward, satisfying, and exactly the kind of lunch that makes afternoons better.
4. Sid’s Diner – El Reno, OK
People come for the onion burgers, but Sid’s blue plate rhythm is equally craveable. One day it’s chili mac, the next it’s meatloaf swimming in gravy. Fried chicken shows up with crackly skin, ready to challenge your willpower.
It’s a no frills, all flavor situation where the plate speaks louder than hype. Your sides will be simple and solid, exactly what you want. Grab a booth, watch the griddle action, and remember why diners endure. This is comfort food that doesn’t apologize, priced so you can return tomorrow without hesitation.
5. Jimmy’s Egg – Statewide
Jimmy’s Egg might be a chain, but many Oklahoma locations honor the blue plate formula. You get a hot main, two trusty sides, and a biscuit or roll that hits the spot. Baked chicken, country steak, or homestyle meatloaf share the rotation.
Breakfast runs all day, yet the plate lunches bring surprising nostalgia. It’s dependable, affordable, and right there when the craving hits. Ask about today’s special and pair it with coffee that never seems to empty. Convenience meets tradition, making this an easy statewide go to when comfort is non negotiable.
6. Clanton’s Café – Vinita, OK
Clanton’s has been feeding Vinita since 1927, and it shows in every generous plate. Chicken-fried steak arrives crisp outside, tender inside, sliding under creamy gravy like a seasoned pro. Pot roast falls apart with a fork, backed by mashed potatoes that taste hand whipped.
The daily special board keeps locals nodding because they already know it will be right. Service is neighborly, not scripted. Grab a seat, sip some coffee, and trust the kitchen. You can chase trends elsewhere. Here, tradition wins, and your appetite gets the trophy in the form of a classic, comforting blue plate.
7. Boom-a-Rang Diner – Various OK Locations
Boom-a-Rang brings old school diner energy to towns across Oklahoma. The meat-and-three specials keep lunch under budget without skimping on flavor. Chicken fried steak is a star, but pot roast and turkey-and-dressing show up often.
Sides run classic: fried okra, mashed potatoes, green beans, mac and cheese. Prices feel friendly, service feels neighborly, and the booths invite lingering. If you want a 1950s moment without the time machine, this is your stop. Ask your server what’s off the menu, because some of the best plates never make the board.
8. Boulevard Diner – Bartlesville, OK
Boulevard Diner deals in straightforward comfort: open-faced roast beef, chicken-fried steak, and pot roast that softens the toughest day. The blue plate setup is simple and satisfying, with sides stacked generously. Gravy gets ladled like they mean it.
You can keep it classic with mashed potatoes and green beans or branch into seasonal sides. Service is friendly, pace is relaxed, and the check stays reasonable. It’s the kind of place where you wave to regulars by the second visit. Ask about pie before it sells out, then plan a nap.
9. Wee Too Diner – Enid, OK
Wee Too feels like a friend’s kitchen where the casseroles never end. Daily specials lean hearty: meatloaf with gravy, country fried steak, or baked chicken. Sides arrive like clockwork and fill the plate’s empty spaces quickly.
Breakfast crowds roll into lunch without missing a beat, and service keeps coffee topped. Prices make it easy to return often. Ask your server for the off menu favorite because regulars know the secret. You’ll leave warmed up, full, and slightly nostalgic. It’s Enid comfort food delivered without pretense, perfect for everyday cravings.
10. Hammett House – Claremore, OK
Hammett House cooks like Oklahoma tradition on a plate. Expect chicken and dressing, pot roast, and pork chops, all served with sides that feel homemade. The portions are generous, the gravy is respectable, and the rolls are a quiet highlight.
People talk about the pies for good reason, so leave space. Service is warm and practiced, keeping the old school energy intact. Ask about today’s special and trust the recommendation. You get a lot of comfort for the price, plus that delightful small town pace you did not know you missed.
11. Ike’s Chili – Tulsa, OK
Ike’s proves chili can be a blue plate all its own. Order it three way or poured over spaghetti, then add beans, onions, and cheese. Cornbread plays trusty sidekick, and sometimes there’s a rotating home style entrée for lunch.
The flavor runs deep, the price stays friendly, and the nostalgia hangs in the air like old songs. Ask for heat if you want it to sing. This is Tulsa comfort with a ladle, perfect on cold days or any day you crave a hearty, no nonsense plate.
12. Choice Cafe – Oklahoma City, OK
Choice Cafe leans bright and cheerful, and the plates follow suit. You’ll find blue plate style lunches with a main, two sides, and bread that soaks up every last drop. Baked chicken, meatloaf, or country steak appear often, flanked by green beans and mashed potatoes.
Service is upbeat, prices are kind, and portions are generous for weekday appetites. Ask what’s running today because the kitchen rotates favorites. It’s a classic OKC stop when you want tradition without fuss, plus enough leftovers to make the afternoon easier.
13. Sunnyside Diner – Oklahoma City, OK
Sunnyside brings a sunny mood and a classic approach to comfort. Breakfast headlines, but the lunch plates channel vintage diners: turkey and dressing, meatloaf with gravy, or chicken fried steak. Sides are honest and portions come generous.
Order coffee, ask about today’s special, and settle into the easy pace. Prices feel right for everyday visits, and service keeps things cheerful. You leave satisfied, maybe with pie to go. It’s the kind of place that makes a regular out of you faster than expected.
